tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60474332012-01-30T21:53:32.123ZLucianoreply@blogger.comBlogger9311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-48307085890919205462012-01-30T21:53:00.000Z2012-01-30T21:53:32.127Z

Still here!  I desperately don't want to 'lose' this blog, but Facebook entries via my mobile are about all I can usually manage at the moment.  However, one day my children will both sleep through the night, I will cease to suffer from insomnia, we will have moved house, I will be settled in a new job, I will be able to drive, and all will be well, right? Stress levels are high around here

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-26946391343150767012011-11-24T11:18:00.001Z2011-11-24T11:20:11.082Z

Toddler with high temperature, baby with sneezes and sniffles.  I have a sore throat and am knackered but otherwise fine. Watching lots of Thomas the Tank Engine and encouraging G to eat and drink. C dozing on the floor and occasionally waking and trying to roll over.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-15822880626981728392011-11-16T15:41:00.001Z2011-11-16T15:43:23.452Z

Still here but life too hectic for writing regularly on here.  No good writing a catalogue of moans (of which there are many - sleep/job/money/house related) so will say that I am very grateful for my 2 girls and all the support from Adriano.  Hopefully more one day soon?! (Blogposts that is, not children!)

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-47949411847966739112011-10-05T07:25:00.002Z2011-10-05T07:25:59.654Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-71401949449809599892011-08-05T19:07:00.002Z2011-08-05T19:18:30.362Z

Had a sweep at my appointment at 39+5 but told cervix v posterior, 1cm dilated, and nothing looked imminent. Didn't have bleeding afterwards or even any cramps. A couple of days later the mucus plug very gradually began to make an appearance - over the next 5 days or so.40+5 had an appointment booked to discuss c-section/induction options and another possible sweep. Never made it to

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-53441261910779082612011-07-23T15:15:00.003Z2011-07-23T15:29:55.259Z

Ch@rlotte Jenn1fer (aka Lott1e) arrived at 0019 hours on 19th July 2011. She's beautiful! I managed a VBAC, wow (and ouch).

Lucianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-47050015019048673912011-07-16T19:05:00.002Z2011-07-16T19:12:16.459Z

Gosh. Still here with a bump. Didn't expect to get this far without a newborn baby to look after. Very slightly crampy occasionally and a bit of a 'show' all this week, but that's it. Went into labour with G on the due date so always imagined this one to be similar or earlier. G is very clingy and has another cold and we've had disturbed nights galore, and and and.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-47368507510396826912011-07-09T18:45:00.006Z2011-07-10T08:43:20.013Z

Still 'baby on board'.She's been a bit quiet the last couple of days but I think all is OK.This time:Nausea took a week longer to really kick in, and left about a week soonerWas sick about twice a day for 6 to 7 weeksHigh risk for Down's Syndrome according to NHS tests2 herniasLots more stretch marks and veins on my bumpMore leg cramp at nightHeavily pregnant in Summer although there's been lots

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-88272392804584538852011-06-30T09:20:00.003Z2011-06-30T09:33:06.545Z

Well here we are. One bulbous bump, freely commented on by all and sundry, even shouted comments from strangers across the road (honestly).Baby's head no longer engaged, hey ho.No twinges.Really would like the baby to be early but have sneaky suspicion she may even be late. Grr, feeling impatient at times.Now officially aiming for a VBAC but all around me are guessing that it will end in a

Lucianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-63722443373290194482011-06-25T20:44:00.001Z2011-06-25T20:47:27.806Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-32455554468507512552011-06-16T20:15:00.003Z2011-06-16T20:36:35.536Z

Doing OK over here, just scared of all the things that can go wrong, having got to this point! Am still pissed off about the hernias but what can I do? The baby's head was 2/5 engaged at my appointment with the obstetric doctor on Monday.Still sleeping badly but that's not exactly newsworthy. Getting a few naps in thanks to Adriano so I'm surviving. Just hope he is! He's working so hard as

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-57559939399212886892011-05-26T19:53:00.003Z2011-05-27T19:17:50.032Z

I finished my last day of teaching today; my first official day of maternity leave is June 8th.I am so tired. Contributary factors are: insomnia; G waking from bad dreams; the bump kicking (reassuring and lovely but makes it hard to sleep); the baby bouncing on my bladder so I go to the loo around 3 times during the night; being a light sleeper so being woken by Adriano coming into the room/

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-10934113588568032792011-04-22T19:12:00.003Z2011-04-22T19:35:28.994Z

We have been, and still are, ill again. I'm coming to the end of 2 weeks' holiday from work, and have been ill the entire time. G has it a bit, and yesterday Adriano started coming down with it, or something, as well.In a nutshell it involves coughing and coughing and coughing and not really sleeping.Arrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Don't need this. So fed up with hearing myself bark like

Lucianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-39518458570959706032011-04-05T16:23:00.016Z2011-04-07T20:58:30.909Z

Had a better night after awful insomnia this week.G woke mercifully late, heard her stirring around 7.15am. Could have reasonably been any time from 6am so am grateful.Listened to her over the monitor chatting to herself while Adriano and I felt bump kicking. Adrian also looking at his work emails (!) to check for positive comments on a project he is working hard on.Decided I would do without a

Lucianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-48957388116285169202011-04-01T20:09:00.003Z2011-04-01T20:30:02.206Z

Hello heartburn. Ouch. I slept with 6 pillows last night.Took G for her 2nd proper haircut today. She couldn't wait to sit in the purple car in front of the mirror, but when the hairdresser started squirting the water on, there were tears. Lots of them. The tears vanished when she was back out of the car and had been handed a really bad-for-her lollipop. Suddenly all was well with her world

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-42635982948504151012011-03-17T20:58:00.005Z2011-04-01T20:04:05.112Z

Where does the time go? I am a bit too tired to write this really (hang on, that's what I said in the last post) but I can't let another week go by without a post. Actually I can because the very few people who read this blog are either my husband (hello!) or friends who contact me more via Facebook.But there are so many memories on here I can't abandon it altogether.OK time for a rambling

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-15073388685503494592011-02-25T21:10:00.002Z2011-02-25T22:08:34.404Z

Our amazing little girl turned 2 today. I am tired now but I will try to write a fuller post about it at some point. I am so so proud of her and love her more than it's possible to express. What a kid.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-64125817529785897242011-02-15T21:09:00.004Z2011-02-15T21:20:30.218Z

Forgot to say last post that I have developed an umbilical hernia. How effing unglamorous is that? Am so annoyed. Can't do less lifting than I already do, but what lifting I do is considerable. It has been fairly painless but has given me some difficulty today. I am not half way through yet - am worried as I hear tales of it getting worse and lots of pain and inability to walk later on and

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-30897795055421696222011-02-05T16:26:00.002Z2011-02-05T16:35:54.838Z

TMI alert: I am still retching morning and evening, and still a bit fussy about some food and drinks, but on the whole feeling loads better now. Have been back at work for 2 knackering weeks.G has given up her nap most days - think I mentioned that before - and I'm not sleeping well (for about 2.5 years now?) so pretty tired but coping somehow. Going to be hard when I get bigger so trying to

Lucianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-15722261180137969052011-01-06T10:50:00.004Z2011-01-06T11:09:57.978Z

Quick update: as I suspected our Down's Syndrome risk factor came back 'high' at 1:110. Not devastatingly high by any means so that was a relief. I was still leaning away from an amnio, but Adriano was starting to think it might be a good idea after all, to avoid 6 months of worry, or to get our heads around it a bit if the result was positive.I consider us to be amazingly lucky because

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-27813570337337599482010-12-31T17:29:00.000Z2010-12-31T17:29:42.688Z

Where to start?Thank god for my husband and my mum, is something I am feeling very strongly right now. I am going through a horrible time physically, but it's for a good cause. A few days after I wrote that post where I wanted to become pregnant, we did actually manage it. At first I thought 'it won't hold', being the pessimist that I am, but here we are at 12 weeks and I am puking, and

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-1907748046567301362010-11-28T11:27:00.001Z2010-11-28T12:50:03.459Z

Realise I haven't written on here for over a month!I am still alive. Will try to post some more photos soon.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-24301458242200780242010-10-16T20:33:00.005Z2010-10-16T20:59:11.029Z

I don't know if it's my Catholic upbringing, but I do sometimes feel guilty if I want even just what a lot of others have, when there is so much 'not enough' in the world. That's terrible sentence construction but you know what I mean.But if I am daring to ask, this is what I would like:To become pregnant with another healthy baby, preferably without the 24-7 sickness.To manage to give birth a

Lucianoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-12230448279507761502010-10-10T11:49:00.003Z2010-10-10T11:50:53.036Z

I am so frustrated because I want to leave a comment and can't do it - no comment box appears - but .... how amazing is this lady aka Some Mothers Do Ave Em.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-65758303188928768032010-10-05T12:03:00.001Z2010-10-05T12:06:25.261Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-24592475480116666962010-10-04T11:53:00.004Z2010-10-04T12:11:08.298Z

The sleep, and the getting to sleep, is still disturbed. There have been 3 nights of sleeping through the night now since we got back from holiday on Sept 5th, but one of those was only 8 hours long.The sentences, or at least the putting words together, are coming thick and fast. "Mummy do it", "Let's find Daddy", "want monkey", "I don't like it", "show mummy now", and so on.First proper

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-12123138500286678072010-09-11T21:04:00.004Z2010-09-11T21:21:12.863Z

Quick update to say that we survived the holiday in Portugal, but ever since, G's sleep has been appalling. I am in bits and feeling really low about it right now. Too tired to write more details at the moment.Had a sad week as a friend who's been longing to conceive for a while told me she'd just had a miscarriage at 8 weeks after seeing a heartbeat at a 6 week scan. My heart hurt when I

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-43323840878141050162010-08-25T20:34:00.004Z2010-08-25T20:53:07.931Z

Eighteen months ago today I was exhausted but elated and full of wonder, looking at my new little daughter. Now she's a little girl, a toddler, really no longer a baby.A few days ago she said her first sentence, "I like seagulls", and tonight in the bath she did a lot of drill impressions and then said "drill!" and beamed at me cheekily. It's a word she learnt this afternoon after pointing to a

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-25537366080609986302010-08-18T12:23:00.002Z2010-08-18T12:27:25.291Z

Adriano and I celebrated 2 years of marriage a few weeks ago. I think we're doing great! We stayed at my parents' house so we could leave G there while we went out in the evening - the first time we've done that since she was born.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-44766500838143831192010-08-18T12:07:00.004Z2010-08-18T12:23:23.847Z

Feeling a bit low today. Isolated, bored, emotional, uninspired, inadequate, frustrated.Somewhere in there I'm also happy and grateful too.Little G is going to be 18 months old in a week's time. I am biased of course, but her vocabulary astounds me every day. She has started to put 2 or 3 words together, e.g. 'mummy's tea' or 'flags up there'. It's very exciting to see her develop at all, let

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-56215624801282913002010-07-27T11:40:00.008Z2010-07-27T12:00:44.519Z

Among many many new words and expressions, Little G now says the following:Cool!Let go! (Let's go! Usually when she has just picked up a bag - any bag)Yeh peez (yes please)Tha-kyew (thank you)Foooooot (fruit, usually said urgently as she loves it)Let see... (Let's see...)Whoop! (Whoops! Said when she or we have dropped something.)Look Daddy! (often said when she has successfully put an item of

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-77787188945510045762010-07-13T11:26:00.007Z2010-07-13T11:49:05.797Z

I listened to the slot about 'mummy bloggers' on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour this morning. It was interesting but afterwards I felt pissed off. I'm quite sure it's my own insecurities talking here, but I felt that amongst all the jolly chat about making money and the 'bad' blogs not being known because they weren't engaging, I thought there was a whole load of people left out: the ones like

Lucianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-20016646222607165282010-07-12T20:53:00.002Z2010-07-12T21:02:01.883Z

Got LittleG to sleep without hand-holding tonight. That is a real achievement as it's the first time she's accepted it without a (major) fuss since last November. Crikey. I hope tomorrow night is as successful.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-87889389657029521472010-07-11T20:52:00.005Z2010-07-12T21:06:09.512Z

At dinner time tonight, littleG was showing her talking skills to the full. Towards the end of meals we usually offer her extra bits to make sure she's had enough before the meal ends, so we'll say "Would you like some....pear? Would you like some...yoghurt?" etc. She has picked this up a bit and for about ten minutes her little voice came out with something like this:"Li suh......pa? (Like

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-25514225710030694332010-07-11T12:29:00.003Z2010-07-11T12:41:11.192Z

My lovely Aussie friend K brought with her some magical ointment when she visited last week. You've probably heard of it and I'm the last to know, but just in case, here it is:It has cleared up a stubborn sore patch of baby-eczema under G's arm that had been there for months. I was able to cancel our doctor's appointment! I've just ordered 2 more tubes, and reading about it on t'internet, it

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-58373355625882210122010-07-08T20:42:00.003Z2010-07-08T21:10:46.742Z

We have had such a strange couple of days over here.Tuesday, 5.50am, a digital pregnancy test turned positive, 2 days after my due-on-date, therefore at least 99% accurate result. Cue our heads spinning; butterflies in my tummy every time I thought of it; fear, joy, terror, wonder; looking at Little G as a big sister and not as an only child, etc etc etc.Wednesday, 10pm, i.e. 40 hours later, my

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-92151515409700823342010-06-21T20:25:00.002Z2010-06-21T20:31:29.787Z

Just a quick note to say that Little G's vocabulary is astounding me every day. Not all of the words are recognisable by any means but she'll attempt to copy almost everything I say. She understands so much and can make herself understood pretty easily most of the time. It's so exciting!Picture taken at our local 'One o'clock club' (council-run under fives play centre)

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-3203909151692057472010-06-18T20:41:00.001Z2010-06-18T20:45:28.393Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-90483420339466274432010-06-07T20:20:00.006Z2010-06-07T21:07:25.247Z

I am going to a conference on Friday and I'm dreading leaving G for an extra day, especially as it's 3 days in a row instead of 2. However I was looking up the details of the conference and it's on the place of music (yay) in the primary curriculum (yawn) from babies (yay) up to the end of Key Stage 1 (fair enough). I'm ridiculously pleased that it touches on my home life as well as my school

Lucianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-54693797679749078332010-05-31T20:16:00.003Z2010-05-31T20:30:43.540Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-56071734021399344922010-05-30T21:26:00.001Z2010-05-30T21:30:13.381Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-35656761191060392632010-05-30T21:02:00.002Z2010-05-30T21:12:42.604Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-21157059176064434522010-05-29T18:53:00.006Z2010-05-29T19:34:13.591Z

As you can tell from the title of this, my world is very much still centered on little G, as of course it will be forever now.Life is chugging, no, speeding along. One minute she is stumbling a few steps solo, the next she is copying almost everything we say and trying to run and climbing onto chairs and sofas and our red trunk. Cripes. Every now and then she stops for a nap.We definitely have

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-48556972579665307942010-05-14T21:09:00.002Z2010-05-14T21:14:36.087Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-80119780046691656342010-05-09T12:46:00.002Z2010-05-09T12:55:51.864Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-37997169742697820022010-04-11T19:58:00.004Z2010-04-11T20:47:48.463Z

This wonderful spring weather, combined with being on holiday from school, is perking me up beautifully. That's in spite of a dreadful night recently which ended with taking G to the NHS drop-in centre first thing in the morning and her being diagnosed with a perforated ear drum. I felt very very guilty and upset that I didn't take her earlier, as she's had waxy ears for a few weeks. As she

Lucianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-36439038326702813862010-04-04T19:37:00.007Z2010-04-04T19:45:14.686Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-1668243850275418272010-03-28T20:01:00.002Z2010-03-28T20:06:48.083Z

Really want to write a post here, but feeling dismayed that I've got nothing to say except more and more about Little G. I love writing about her, and have lots of warm and fuzzy things to put down here, but on the other hand am a bit sick of this blog now being nothing but a (totally fine but too samey for me) Mummy blog. I don't have many other thoughts in my head though. Sad? True.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-74117088345992994652010-03-05T13:30:00.003Z2010-03-05T13:41:55.385Z

I'm feeling a bit lonely today. Just a little bit.Went to a new toddler group this morning, as G has grown out of her old one really.The new one stank badly of B.O. and no one could sing in tune and there seemed to be pairs of people speaking different languages so unless you could speak Arabic/Hindi/Ukrainian you couldn't really join in. Luckily I bumped into a girl who's friends with a

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-63441358184893864162010-02-26T22:12:00.003Z2010-02-27T13:09:17.508Z

Dear GracieYesterday was your first birthday.You had a lovely day. Daddy took the day off and took you to the park in the morning, where you both played on the swings and the roundabout. It was only the 2nd time you've ever been on the swings. He said you loved it and looked really happy the whole time.At lunchtime you went in the car with Daddy to pick me up from work. Grandpa was there too

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-79872887184314291202010-02-16T21:55:00.003Z2010-02-16T21:59:09.375Z

How do people find the time to look after children, be domestic goddesses, and then blog about it with glorious photos and detailed, witty descriptions?It's a mystery to me.I have one baby and felt like putting the flags out because I managed to make a pancake batter.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-88261077611241857942010-02-15T21:24:00.003Z2010-02-15T21:29:11.124Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-44684184730004680792010-02-15T21:16:00.001Z2010-02-15T21:22:14.279Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-20293902498865798932010-02-08T11:48:00.002Z2010-02-08T11:52:34.706Z

Yesterday I put G down for her nap (she only has one now *sob*) and left her in Adriano's tender care while I went into town for some much needed me-time. Just about the first thing I did was buy myself a latte. Usually I can't carry one and push the pushchair at the same time so I just don't have one. Cheaper, but oh how I miss them especially when the weather's cold. There's something

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-18548166046267562312010-02-08T11:43:00.001Z2010-02-08T11:46:28.521Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-13530317236038099372010-02-06T12:21:00.001Z2010-02-06T12:22:17.292Z

I've never learned how to make a proper blog banner. I think I'd like to change this one finally and get something really good. Any tips from anyone? Help.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-62427975802854407262010-02-05T21:39:00.006Z2010-02-05T22:12:13.423Z

I met Adriano 10 years ago today. Unfortunately for me he was out all day today (and tonight) with his Dad and has to work tomorrow, but he gave me some beautiful red tulips (10 of them) and a card that made my eyes well up with tears. We've had so many ups and downs and we are still ultimately loved up. Hooray :)Today I went to the South Bank to meet my friend Emma (hello Emma!). We walked

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-31538502757761036252010-01-31T12:49:00.001Z2010-01-31T12:50:22.075Z

There is peace in my heart today. Somewhere in there. I think it's because I've done lots of washing.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-87002298585365764312010-01-30T17:57:00.002Z2010-01-30T18:14:06.335Z

POSTS ON TWITTER THAT MENTION GRACIE (account now deleted)* Girl doing her liquid eyeliner on the tube. How? I can't manage it stationary! gracie sat up no wobbles about a minute today. 6:13 AM Aug 21st, 2009 from txt* Downsides of motherhood so far: poo, lack of sleep. Upsides: baby, frequent cake. 7:44 AM Aug 17th, 2009 from txt* Gracie getting good at reaching for toys she's dropped and

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-24496452686980613682010-01-30T16:01:00.002Z2010-01-30T16:05:56.922Z

Well Little G is now 11 months old and the big countdown begins to her 1st birthday. This time last year I was huuuuuge and about two weeks away from getting seriously uncomfortable. I still had no stretch marks at this point, hahahahahahaha.This morning G walked haltingly but successfully across the room holding onto her baby walker (the lovely wooden box on wheels that she got for Xmas from

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-32089610411147444652010-01-30T15:59:00.001Z2010-01-30T16:01:03.939Z

'Tough' kid in Year 2: Miss! Miss! I've got 3 snakes and a dog and a hamster and 23 fish and and and...... What've you got? Me: I've got... nothing.Kid: But you've got your beautiful music.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-34908797941842021222010-01-24T21:48:00.003Z2010-01-24T22:24:54.911Z

Where does the weekend go? Can't believe it's Sunday night again.The G update: now cruising round the furniture, and loves holding onto our hands and 'drunkenly' marching around the room. I'd say she's a couple of months from actual solo walking but definitely heading in the right direction and her growing independence is fun to witness.The sleeping is slightly better - meaning 2-3 wakenings

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-48566226440688841512010-01-16T22:40:00.002Z2010-01-16T22:56:49.433Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-88151327830188490732010-01-10T22:22:00.003Z2010-01-10T22:34:10.513Z

Just a quickie to say that G spends a lot of her time lately saying 'Dad' (to everyone) and when she sees a cat she points and says 'cah!' which is gorgeous.She pulls herself up to standing and is on the verge of cruising around the furniture. She is a delight.Her eating has slightly gone to pot but we're still managing to get something down her, and I'm trying very hard not to show any

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-58682672654367161932010-01-01T21:51:00.002Z2010-01-01T22:08:30.711Z

Rushed entry as usual. Argh. Happy New Year.Little G has been off-colour and off her food (a first for her) the past few days, so I was pleasantly surprised that she managed to stay asleep yesterday evening while Adriano and I ate a long-awaited Thai take-away meal. At 11pm or thereabouts she woke up sobbing miserably so I didn't fight it. Got ready for bed while Adriano comforted her, then

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-1181961729448918172009-12-29T17:35:00.003Z2009-12-29T17:48:11.154Z

I've not got my head straight enough to write what I consider to be a 'proper' post. But here I am anyway. Little G has been pulling herself up to standing with increasing confidence since a couple of days before Christmas. She got farrrrrrrr too many gifts: just a few carefully chosen ones from Adriano and me, and a ton from other people who love her too. We decided to open our gifts leisurely

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-57932485028384909102009-12-21T21:27:00.003Z2009-12-21T21:41:26.028Z

One day I will have the energy and creativity (and hopefully the willing company) to give this day the attention it deserves. My little Pagan heart would like to mark the day in some way and all I can come up with this year is a blog post, hey ho.Anyway, have a relaxing peaceful break, anyone reading this.It's been a totally amazing year for me, completely dominated by the birth of Little G who

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-78655081556097884062009-12-13T08:01:00.000Z2009-12-13T08:02:01.637Z

PS Today is Saint Lucy's day.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-41860703209696629152009-12-13T07:59:00.002Z2009-12-13T08:01:45.288Z

Tired.Second tooth through - hooray!Crawling creates chaos. But fun to watch.Tummy upsets agogo.Tired.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-22422434921633570892009-11-24T16:15:00.002Z2009-11-24T16:23:15.752Z

Just a quick post to say that G is 9 months old tomorrow! And no, I'm not back to my pre-pregnancy shape. I only weigh about 2 lbs more but as for my stomach - bleah. Well, let's not linger there. The last couple of days G has been getting her head around crawling.......FORWARDS! Already I have had to rescue Adriano's X-Box - in 5 seconds flat she managed to crawl there, turn it on, open the

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-49913041531545219322009-11-16T12:12:00.002Z2009-11-16T12:34:24.910Z

Little G has just learnt to clap her hands! It's so cute to watch. Poor thing has a nasty cough so it's nice to see her smiling and looking pleased with herself; she's been a bit quiet and sombre otherwise. Also this morning I can see one of her bottom teeth has FINALLY broken through her gum. It's been a long time coming! This last week she has gone from being on her front to sitting up by

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-45090815085633236002009-11-10T21:37:00.003Z2009-11-10T21:40:54.877Z

I'm finding it a huge struggle to assess any of my kids' 'work' at school in my teaching job. I can only just about remember their names, let alone how well they have contributed or whatever (hell, some days I can only just about remember my name. I wish I was joking.). Next term I'm supposed to answer to the senior management team in writing about it all, and I just want to hide under a rock.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-40034422986657363692009-11-10T20:47:00.004Z2009-11-10T21:22:54.408Z

Little G is now into turning book pages.She gets very very upset when you take the baby wipes away from her and if left to her own devices will pull all of them out of the packet faster than you can say 'pooey bottom'. Today she spent a solid twenty minutes exploring the sticker that covers up the opening hole.Her teeth have not yet made an appearance and she still can't crawl forwards but she

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-20833290539057823362009-10-26T13:53:00.007Z2009-10-26T19:22:02.724Z

I want to give proper time to this post but am chasing my tail with errands today.Went to Pete and Emma's wonderful wedding at the weekend in Totnes. Crazily we left the house at 4am so that most of the drive LittleG would still be asleep. She was soooo excited and happy when I got her out of her cot at that time of night! She was awake for about an hour with the intrigue of it all and then

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-57986898810894670742009-10-19T19:28:00.004Z2009-10-19T20:01:27.725Z

...is G's favourite sound at the moment. Usually expressing displeasure, it can mean 'get me out of this cot right now' or 'feed me that stuff faster' or 'I'm bored' or 'why can I only crawl backwards' or 'I don't want to stay on my back while you change my nappy'.She's now changed her wave to the more delicate hand-opening-and-closing variety, rather than the whole arm shake. Sometimes with

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-62658350992481613092009-10-13T16:20:00.002Z2009-10-13T16:22:28.587Z

Little G has two white lines on her lower gum where teeth are trying to come through. No wonder she's cranky.Although she totally won the hearts of the two grandmas I sat next to when we were out today. She giggled with them and flapped her arms and squealed excitedly.I am quite a baby bore these days, I know it.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-45410079099115608152009-10-12T17:49:00.004Z2009-10-12T18:15:42.716Z

Little G now copies waving. It's gorgeous. She even waved at Iggle Piggle earlier today.Adriano and I went to the local deli for lunch, and G was cuddled by both the ladies in there for ages. She didn't mind at all.She's taken a liking to a largish Winnie the Pooh toy given to her by a colleague at my work. She grabs his nose and eats it.She can slide backwards but still not crawl, much to

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-39352516329996896402009-10-10T14:23:00.002Z2009-10-10T14:25:24.237Z

Recently I bought Little G a cream and green stripy cow from Habitat, which says 'Moooo, moooo, moooo' when you squeeze it/her. I've just noticed that when we get it to make the moo sound, G copies it! I feel so proud :D

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-11833364297002041002009-10-09T10:40:00.002Z2009-10-09T10:45:42.942Z

Little G has been saying 'dadadadadgagagagagagdadadada' a lot in the past few days. She goes through phases of it. She sits up so strong, and gets frustrated at not being able to crawl but hasn't got the hang of getting up on to her knees. She increasingly likes to stand (with lots of help) and looks so proud when she does it. She likes to bang things together and seems to know what we mean

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-81116083879505116792009-10-09T10:31:00.003Z2009-10-09T10:46:00.407Z

We are coping with a family bereavement over here. Please send your love especially to A's family at the moment to help them through.I feel privileged to have been so close as this passing of a beautiful but too short life was witnessed.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-86031817912204882542009-10-04T20:32:00.002Z2009-10-04T20:41:24.167Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-1207733798752484402009-09-26T18:15:00.001Z2009-09-26T18:16:40.178Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-48274248777166169292009-09-25T21:18:00.001Z2009-09-25T21:18:26.986Z

I want more children. I love being a mum.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-73526501451734928392009-09-22T14:33:00.001Z2009-09-22T14:42:51.218Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-77179423588712175932009-09-22T14:15:00.003Z2009-09-22T14:26:49.142Z

So I bit the bullet and dyed my hair blonde on the first day I had more than 5 minutes to myself since G was born. Looked in the mirror; didn't like it.I rang the hairdresser for advice and ended up spending 2 hours and £83.00 from our dwindling pot of gold for even blonder half-head highlights. Slightly improved. I think. Not sure. Honestly I thought it pretty chavtastic but what could I do?

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-20286853654555771532009-09-18T09:16:00.001Z2009-09-18T09:19:14.148Z

Bracelet made by a colleague and friend for G:

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-53515482303366940632009-09-14T09:36:00.002Z2009-09-14T09:40:06.947Z

I think I'm going to give up on twitter. It feels like one too many things to check. I still like my blog and I'm really stuck into facebook now too. I check the BBC and Guardian news sites and I'm slightly weather-obssesed as well. But that's enough. Now I've said that I'll probably be compelled to write something on there very soon. I'm feeling very pre-menstrual today. As our satnav likes

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-60756423824582540682009-09-11T08:16:00.004Z2009-09-11T08:24:03.649Z

Very quick update in fact.Gracie can now sit up unaided. She eats toast, lumpy veg or fruit mush, and pretty much anything really. She can SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT. Hallelujah. I became desperate and 'trained' her out of the habit of waking frequently. After one night things got better; within the week she was sleeping through. She's now in a cotbed which should do her til she's about 4 or 5

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-22195548940697671562009-08-26T21:09:00.001Z2009-08-26T21:11:32.712Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-6851605453779894682009-08-14T12:20:00.001Z2009-08-14T12:27:55.478Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-89834687792821572462009-07-30T11:30:00.001Z2009-07-30T11:34:32.753Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-83011227560680293492009-07-26T19:42:00.005Z2009-07-26T19:51:26.082Z

I am a zombie. I have nothing interesting to say. G is now 5 months old. She continues to love her daily mush, and now takes a bottle of formula a day too. From tomorrow it'll be 2 bottles, and it feels sad but necessary. I'm glad she's taking it without fuss because it stops me from being so melodramatic about it. Adriano is cooking us fish and chips and peas for dinner. We are both

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-28594159096485892792009-07-24T17:28:00.001Z2009-07-24T17:28:41.206Z

Last night G was up at midnight, 2am, 3am, 4am, and 6am. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-178699332346498182009-07-23T20:08:00.002Z2009-07-23T20:48:22.553Z

G's sleeping has been dire for the past month now. I got 'nothing' done today but we had a good day. We ended by actually enjoying the bedtime routine for perhaps the first time. Far fewer tears. Longer bath, which I think helped. Need to go to bed now.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-57935609742409402142009-07-14T10:06:00.002Z2009-07-14T10:30:00.316Z

I've been trying to write a blog post for a long time. I've been having huge issues with sleep, or rather lack of it, and it's not over yet. (Maybe when G is 3, suggests one cruel-but-honest friend.)I'm coping. Just. With a lot of support from Adriano. Who is also exhausted. And has lots of family issues among other trials. And why am I typing weird short sentences?I love G so much and

Lucianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-84656772278700680742009-07-13T21:16:00.000Z2009-07-13T21:17:40.235Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-35189332533928393872009-07-13T20:44:00.001Z2009-07-13T20:52:25.907Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-72766205129597913922009-07-02T12:48:00.001Z2009-07-02T12:49:27.793Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-1225752275233780452009-07-02T12:39:00.002Z2009-07-02T12:42:41.994Z

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047433.post-47300245069263609632009-06-24T17:47:00.003Z2009-06-24T17:51:31.280Z

LittleG has really got the hang of rolling over from front to back today. She has done it a couple of times before but then not repeated it for a while. But now every time I put her on her front, I'll look round and she's rolled! She'll be 4 months old tomorrow. Amazing.

Lucianoreply@blogger.com0